The Ministry of Health (MoH) is the ‘funder’ of disability support services. The Ministry of Social Development, ACC, OT and various DHB’s also provide funding.
Click here for more about MoH disability support services
The Ministry’s Disability Support Services (DSS) unit is responsible for the planning and funding of disability support services and administers the Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation) Act 2003.
Most of the services DSS fund are accessed through a Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) agency.
NASCs work with people with disabilities to help identify their support needs and to outline what supports are available. They allocate MoH-funded support services and assist with accessing other supports.
The Whangarei regional NASC is Northable
The Auckland regional NASC is Taikura Trust
The Waikato regional NASC is Disability Support Link
The Bay of Plenty regional NASC is Support Net
The Wellington Regional NASC is part of the Capital & Coast DHB
The regional NASCs:
- Assess people for services
- Refer people for services
- Provide funding
- Manage payments
- Needs assessment is available for people who meet the Ministry’s definition of disability.